Croissant-donut has global fans and imitators but can it last?

Bearing the looks of a doughnut and the inner workings of a croissant, this confectionery hybrid has become a near-global sensation since its creator, Dominique Ansel, debuted it at his New York City pastry shop in May.

Taiwan – Awake but Still Sleepy Asian Tiger

Economic Overview

Although Taiwan’s economy has been struggling for the last few years, retailers still see new opportunities in the market every day. According Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, year-on-year retail sales have averaged a sluggish growth of 2 percent with a slight dip of -2.14 percent in March 2013. Taiwan’s trade-dependent economy and relatively weak domestic consumption has contributed to this mediocre performance.

Hong Kong was the first region to employ a radio frequency identification (RFID) smart card system in 1997 called the Octopus.

Hong Kong was the first region to employ a radio frequency identification (RFID) smart card system in 1997 called the Octopus. The cards are now used by 95 percent of the population with 11 million transactions daily across metro, buses, ferries and more than 10,000 retail outlets in the city. Many Asia-Pacific cities and regions now use similar cards. Major cities in Japan use lots of different types of transport cards, Beijing and Shanghai commuters use the Yikatong, Singaporeans use the EZ-Link smart card, Taiwan has the EasyCard and most recently (December) New Delhi’s government launched a “Common Mobility Card” called More. New Zealand is currently working with Octopus to develop a transport card for 2012.

There's been a lot of talk in Taiwan about the opening of California Pizza Kitchen.

There’s been a lot of talk in Taiwan about the opening of California Pizza Kitchen. The buzz of a new restaurant is generally a common thing here; however, store closings are just as popular. Can CPK really ‘make it’ in the high-profile Taipei 101 area? They certainly have a lot to compete with. For starters, pizza delivery is extremely fast here in Taiwan via Pizza Hut and Domino’s fine-tuned processes. There are also plenty of casual dining and high-end restaurants in the area. The most notable successful competitor in the area that comes to mind would be Gordon Biersch. Rent is definitely extremely high in this central business district. Maybe this is the reason why Macaroni Grill moved out of the neighborhood. Chili’s, however, has been a mainstay for many years.